This grocery bag holder is a tall, slim tube with an open fan-shell lattice. It is neat enough to hang in plain sight. You push bags in through the top and pull them out one at a time through a small drawstring opening at the bottom.
The sample is shown in two colors: soft sage green and warm cream. Each holder uses one color only, so choose the color that suits your kitchen. Cotton yarn shows the lace clearly and keeps its shape.
This pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished holder is about 18 in (45.7 cm) tall and 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide when laid flat. It measures 13.7 in (34.8 cm) around.
You work the holder from the bottom up in joined rounds. First comes a solid band with an eyelet round for the drawstring. Next is the fan-shell lace body, then a solid top band. Last, you add a hanging strap and a chain drawstring. There are no seams.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide flat × 18 in (45.7 cm) tall
- Circumference: 13.7 in (34.8 cm)
- Skill level: Easy–Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4), cotton or cotton blend
- Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8)
- Number of pieces: 1 tube, plus a strap worked directly onto it and a separate drawstring cord
- Layout: Seamless tube worked in joined rounds
- Size before top band: 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
- Top band depth: 2 in (5.1 cm)
Materials
Yarn: Use a smooth worsted-weight cotton. It shows the stitch pattern clearly and does not stretch much under the weight of bags. Avoid fuzzy or very stretchy yarns.
- Sage green OR cream: 130 g (235 m) per holder. This covers the tube, strap, and drawstring.
The quantity includes a safety margin of about 15%.
Tools:
– 5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook
– 1 stitch marker
– Yarn needle
– Scissors
– Measuring tape
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sk – skip
- sp – space
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- rep – repeat
- rnd – round
Special stitch – Shell: (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in the same stitch. Each shell has 4 dc and one ch-2 sp at its center.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Single crochet gauge: 14 sc and 16 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm).
Lace gauge: 2 shell repeats = 3.4 in (8.6 cm) wide, and 4 lace rnds = 3 in (7.6 cm) tall.
Check your gauge on the holder itself instead of making a separate swatch. Work Rnds 1–2, lay the tube flat, and measure it.
Checkpoints:
– After Rnd 2: 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide flat
– After Rnd 9: 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall
– After Rnd 17 (8 lace rnds): 8.5 in (21.6 cm) tall in total, which is 6 in (15.2 cm) of lace
– After Rnd 27: 16 in (40.6 cm) tall
– After Rnd 35: 18 in (45.7 cm) tall
If your tube is too wide, go down half a hook size. If it is too narrow, go up half a hook size. Do not add or remove stitches, because the lace needs a multiple of 6. If only the height is off, add or remove lace rounds in pairs.
Pattern
Bottom Band
Foundation: Ch 48. Sl st to the first ch to form a ring. Make sure the chain is not twisted.
Rnd 1: Ch 1. Sc in each ch around. Sl st to the first sc. (48 sts)
Rnd 2: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (48 sts)
Rnd 3 (eyelet round): Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1). Sk the next st. Dc in the next st, ch 1, sk the next st. Rep from * 22 more times. Sl st to the 3rd ch of the beginning ch-4. (24 dc + 24 ch-1 sps = 48 sts)
Rnd 4: Ch 1. Sc in each dc and in each ch-1 sp around. Sl st to the first sc. (24 sc worked into dc + 24 sc worked into sps = 48 sts)
Rnds 5–9: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (48 sts)
Checkpoint: The tube should be 2.5 in (6.4 cm) tall and 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide flat.
Lace Body
Rnd 10 (lace setup): Ch 1. Sc in the first st. Sk 2 sts, shell in the next st, sk 2 sts, sc in the next st. Rep from * 6 more times. Sk 2 sts, shell in the next st, sk 2 sts. Sl st to the first sc. (8 shells + 8 sc)
Each repeat uses 6 sts of the round below, and 8 × 6 = 48, so the round fits exactly.
Rnd 11 (offset round): Ch 3 (counts as dc). Work (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in the same st as the join; this is the first shell. Sc in the ch-2 sp of the next shell. Shell in the next sc, sc in the ch-2 sp of the next shell. Rep from * 6 more times. Sl st to the top of the beginning ch-3. (8 shells + 8 sc)
Rnd 12: Sl st in the next dc and into the ch-2 sp. Ch 1, sc in the same sp. Shell in the next sc, sc in the ch-2 sp of the next shell. Rep from * 6 more times. Shell in the last sc. Sl st to the first sc. (8 sc + 8 shells)
In every round, the shells sit on the sc of the round below, and each sc sits in the center of a shell. This half-repeat shift between rounds creates the diamond lattice.
Rnds 13–27: Repeat Rnds 11 and 12 in turn. End with an odd-numbered round worked like Rnd 11 (Rnd 27). (8 shells + 8 sc in every round)
The lace body is 18 rounds in total (Rnds 10–27).
Checkpoint: The tube should be 16 in (40.6 cm) tall. The lace may flare slightly wider than the bands; blocking will even this out.
Border: Top Band and Hanging Strap
Border gauge: 14 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), the same as the bottom band.
When the tube is flattened, each face has 24 sts. Because this is a tube, there are no corner stitches; the two folds fall between sts 24 and 25 and between sts 48 and 1.
Rnd 28 (trim round): Ch 1. Sc in the same st as the join (the top of the ch-3) and in the next dc. Sc in the ch-2 sp. Sc in each of the next 2 dc. Dc in the next sc. Sc in each of the next 2 dc, sc in the ch-2 sp, sc in each of the next 2 dc, dc in the next sc. Rep from * 6 more times. Sl st to the first sc. (40 sts worked one into each existing st + 8 sc worked into ch-2 sps = 48 sts; 24 per side)
The dc worked into each low sc lifts the dips between the shells, so the top band starts level.
Rnds 29–35: Ch 1. Sc in each st around. Sl st to the first sc. (48 sts; 24 per side)
Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Why the math works: Rnd 28 turns each 6-st lace repeat (4 dc + 1 sc existing, plus 1 ch-2 sp) back into exactly 6 sts. 8 repeats × 6 = 48 sts, the same count as the bottom band. That gives 24 sts per side, which is 4 shell repeats on each face. The 8-round top band adds 8 ÷ 4 = 2 in (5.1 cm), for a finished height of 16 + 2 = 18 in (45.7 cm).
Hanging Strap
Flatten the tube so the round joins line up along one fold. Place a marker in sts 1–2 and another in sts 25–26. These pairs sit directly opposite each other.
Row 1: Join yarn in st 1. Ch 1. Sc in sts 1 and 2. Turn. (2 sts)
Rows 2–28: Ch 1. Sc in each of the 2 sts. Turn. (2 sts)
The strap is about 0.6 in (1.5 cm) wide and 7 in (17.8 cm) long. Fasten off, leaving a 10 in (25.4 cm) tail. Sew the end of the strap firmly to sts 25–26, making sure it is not twisted.
Drawstring
Chain until the cord measures 30 in (76.2 cm), about 100 chains. Turn and sl st into the back bump of each chain to firm up the cord. Fasten off and tie a small knot at each end.
Starting at the center front, weave the cord in and out through the 24 ch-1 sps of Rnd 3. Bring it back out at the center front. Pull it until the opening is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) across, then tie a bow.
Final Blocking
- Mist the holder with water until it is evenly damp, or soak it and gently squeeze out the water.
- Slide a rolled towel or a tall bottle wrapped in a towel inside the tube.
- Pat the shells into place so each ch-2 sp opens and the diamonds line up in straight columns.
- Check that the tube is 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide flat and 18 in (45.7 cm) tall.
- Let it dry completely before hanging it. Do not stretch it lengthwise.
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Every round has 48 sts or 8 shells + 8 sc
- The tube measures 6.9 in (17.5 cm) wide flat and 18 in (45.7 cm) tall
- The lace columns run straight, without spiraling
- The top edge is level, with no dips above the shells
- The strap ends are directly opposite each other and firmly sewn
- The drawstring passes through all 24 eyelets and ties at the center front
- All ends are woven in securely
Troubleshooting
The tube spirals or leans. Your round joins are drifting. Always join into the stitch named in the pattern and keep a marker in the first stitch.
You end up with too few or too many shells. Count the skipped stitches in Rnd 10. Each repeat must use exactly 6 sts.
The lace is too tight to show the bags. Use a looser tension on the dc, or go up half a hook size for the lace rounds only.
The top edge ripples. Your tension on Rnd 28 is too loose. Rework it with firmer stitches.
The drawstring slips loose. Make the cord with a sl st return row and tie a double knot under the bow.
The strap stretches. Use a firmer tension on the strap, or add a row of sl sts along each edge.
Care
Hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cycle in cool water. Reshape the holder while damp and lay it flat to dry.
Final Notes
The measurements build on each other. 48 sts at 14 sc per 4 in (10.2 cm) give a circumference of 13.7 in (34.8 cm), or 6.9 in (17.5 cm) flat. The bottom band adds 2.5 in (6.4 cm) and the 18 lace rounds add 13.5 in (34.3 cm), for 16 in (40.6 cm) before the top band. The 2 in (5.1 cm) top band brings the holder to 18 in (45.7 cm). If you check your size at each checkpoint, the finished holder will match.
Happy crocheting!